The Dillon tribune., 1887-10-07
PHIL ARMOUR'S PLANS.
HE TELLS A PARSON HOW TO RUN
A SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION.

HE TELLS A PARsoN HOW TO RUN
A SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSION.
The Pork Kings Idc. Fills the Benches
and the Service Is - Most Interesting
One-,rhc Prayers are Made short-Tho
Mission Non.sectarian.
When the Armour mission, up on
Thirty-thir,i street was started with *lOO,-
900 endowment. it was hard to decide
Just how to manage the religious end Of it.
Joseph Armour had directed in the will by
! which he gave it $780, that it should
be non -scctarian. Phil Armour, who
added $4OO. 900 to the original fund, was
altogether opposed to the mission being
| anythin. but y broad, humanitarian
charity, with plenty of religion, of course,
but Of that generic sort only which would
be as acceptable to the Romanist as to the
Methodist, and as agreeable to the Epis-
copalian as to the Baptist. The reverend
gentleman who was finally selected to take
charge of the religious welfare of the in
stitution was given, in general terms, an
idea OF this purpose of the founders.
They did not want sectarianism Ct any
kind or degree. Good doctrine from the
was asked to give He began with c.
crgy, and ran along for some tilne on Is
own idea of what the little children s.nd
the parents who filled the benches needed.
One day he received summons to come
down town to the Office. lie got there
promptly and was beckOnc,l over to the
big packers ,lesk. Armour wheeled
around in his chair Il couple of times AS if
to select his vocabulary, looked the man
of God over carefully and then launched
forth his own ideas of theology.
''You're giving these youngsters too
much grape and canister he began.
slowly. ''lIcll fire and birthstone arc ali
right for the old sinners, but the mission
isn't for them. Now,'' he added, with
the same emphasis he'd use to one OF his
office clerks, II want you to change around
and try another plan. II you don't, you'll
drive all those children away. When you
begin your service il, the morning
you can read n chapter from the Bible.
Then have little prayer, something
short: not longer than that''-measuring
off about =. foot with his forciingers.
''Thcn want you to sing-sing II good
many times" he repeated, cmphatically.
''Thcn tell u story" he continued, '.somc-
thing viii, /; point to 1t and moral, but
short. Then you cnn have another little
prayer, but, mind You, not longer than
that''-holding up his hands about six
inches apart this time.
IT FILLED THE BENCHES.
''Mr Armour remarked the preacher.
rather jocosely, IL suppose you can run a
packing house, but you don't know much
about religion"
Well" said the builder of the mission,
very sharply, Twill you try it:''
ooh. yes,' was the answer
Phil Armour's theological scheme has
been IN vogue ever since that interview
and has been u great success He goes up
every Sunday to the morning chiltrcn's
service and watches the thing grow.
''Don't you mind the old fellows or the
played out Sinners he constantly adiures
the minister in charge. 'If you see ON
old fellow IN the gutter, even, don't stop,
but keep your eye "n the little fellow
ahead. Look out for him.
Arnour's theology has filled up the
benches, and they hold 1900 people, The
preacher, ever since the sharp Interview
ut the La Sale street office, has been
working on the new tack. The service is
most interesting one. According to
orders, the grown folks are entirely ig-
nored. The whole service is for the little
ones. The prayers are short-not longer
han Armour indicated with his two fore
fingers. There is singing pretty nearly
ali the time. The little fellows are drilled
to lvcite verses or to sing solos. And vet
the benches ire almost filled with the na-
rents and grown brothers and sisters of
the little ones. There arc twice as MANY
ut this chiltlren's service in the morning
us III the evening, Wher sermon is
preached.
'iou can do what You like ut night"